Device for automatic stitching of cardboard boxes



W- 1949 o. E. LARSSON 2,489,909

' DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC STITCHING OF CARDBOARD BOXES Filed Aug. 17, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.2.

A T TORNEY Nov. 29, 1949 4 O, E, LARSSON 2,489,909

DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC STITCHING OF CARDBOARD BOXES Filed Aug. 17, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

hi M

. ATTORNEY Nov. 29, 1949 o. E. LARSSON 8 0 DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC STITCHING OF CARDBOARD BOXES Filed Aug. 17, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 29, 1949 DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC STITCHING:OF CARDBOARD-BOXES 'Olof Einar Larsson, Orebro, Sweden Application August 17, 1949, Serial No. 110,818 In Sweden January 11, .1946

7 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for stitch- ,ingtogether pieces of material and more particularly to such a machine as can be conveniently adjusted for automatically .stitching pieces of cardboard and boxes of various sizes.

The machine of the present invention provides for starting a stitching operation by contact of .a' forward edge of pieces of material to be stitched together with a member whichinitiates a stitching operation which is automatically terminated after-a selected number of clips have been set .inithe course of stitching a seam along the .material. Provision ismade for changing the numberiof clips which may be placedor set during any one stitching operation, for changing the .:intervals between clips, for determining howfar zfrom-the forward edge of the material the first 3:11p ,of-a. series of clips is-to be set, andfor locatting thematerial laterall of the line of clips. Accordingly, itispossible to begin and stop a stitch- :ing zoperation atpredeterminated locations in the material-and in materials of different widths and =lengths,:and in rows having any number of clips :desired.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. -1 is-an elevational view'of the front or :feeding side i of the machine;

Fig. 21s :a rear elevationalview of the machine;

:Fig. .13 is a view taken from the right'end. of :Fig. 1;

Fig. ,4 is an enlarged view of the divisional or variable ratioapparatus illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig.5 is a view of the divisional apparatus as seen from theright of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail of a controlling shaft through which-a stitching operation is initiated;

Fig. '7 is a face view of the one-way driving =c1utch illustrated in section in Fig. 4; and

Fig. '8 is a finger wheel with pivoted fingers.

The machine comprises a frame supporting a table I over which the sheets of cardboard or other material pass during a stitching operation. The sheets are fed forwardly over a table and between a pair of rollers 6 and a feeding roller 12, Fig. 1, which extends through a longitudinal slot in'the table I. The roller I2 is mounted upon a shaft 5 which is journalled in bearings which arelocated under the table. The shaft 6 ,is driven from the shaft 4, Fig. 2, by a belt. The drive ,for the shaft 4 is obtained from a change speed mechanism or variator 3! which is driven "from a motor driven pulley 25 by means of a .chain or sprocket connection.

The outer longitudinal edges of the sheets which are to be stitched together are engaged by a pair of endless belts 2 which are advanced by pulleys 3 which aremounted'upon vertical shafts. The surfaces of the endless belts 2 which face each other may be parallel, but preferably they are pitched with respect to each other so that the sheets between them are laterally justified.

The vertically disposed pulleys 3 are driven from the shaft 4 through pairs of bevel gears 43, one of each pair of gears 43.being'slotted'to engage and slide along a spline in the shaft 4. The upper bevel gear 55 of thepair of bevel gears 43 (at the right end of Fig. 2) is mounted on a vertical shaft of one of the pulleys 3 by which the edgewise justifyin bands '2 is driven. The vertical shafts of the pulleys'3 and theh'orizon- .tal shafts. 56 of the rollers 6 are mounted on a slidable carriage 51. The shaft of the handwheel .40 carries a bevel gear which meshes with a bevel gear on a shaft having a worm connection with the carriage 51. The spacing of the pairs of bevel gears 43 and of the endless bands 2 may be adjusted .by the handwheel 49 for suitably positioning the bands to accommodate the particular widthorbox size ofthe sheets of material which are to be fed and stitched together. .Since the speed of rotation of theshaft l can be varied with respect to the speed-of rotation of the motor driven pulley 25 by adjusting the variator 3!, and the pulley 25 drives the stitching controlling shaft 4'6 when the latter is coupled to the pulley,

.journalledin bearings supported vby the stitchinghead 24 which extends from .one .end of the frame-of the machine-laterally across and above the table. The stitching apparatus 44 is of conventional form and thestitching is performed in the usual manner with metal bands or wire. Shaft 46 is driven intermittently from the motor driven pulley 25, which is coupled to the shaft 46 each time a series of stitching clips is to be set.

A stitching operation is started by a rotary motion of .the shaft I which is horizontally disposed above the table I,.Figs. 2 and 3. The same shaft 1 is illustrated on an en arged scale in Figs. Sand 6. The rotation of shaft 1 causes the shaft 46 to be coupled to the motor driven pulley 25. The shaft 1 has mounted thereon a wheel 8 which carries four pivoted fingers 52, Figs. 2 and 6, by which the shaft 1 can be rotated in only one direction. Each finger is of such length that when it extends downwardly toward the table it will be engaged and displaced by the forward edge of the sheets of material being advanced over the table, with the result that the advancing sheets will rotate shaft I a quarter of a revolution and that being possible because of the fact, that the next finger (52a in Fig. 8) is lifted by the advancing sheet until it has passed, when the finger swivels into position (5213) for meeting the forward edge of a new sheet. Each quarter of a revolution initiates a stitching operation. The shaft I carries a cam wheel 23 having four projections or wipers 23 corresponding to the four fingers 52 on Wheel 8. As the shaft I is rotated a quarter of a revolution by the advance edge of the sheets to be stitched together, a corresponding wiper 23' engages a wing 45 on the shaft 9 and rocks the shaft 9-clockwise as viewed in Figs. 1 and 4, and counterclockwise as viewed in Figs. 2 and 6, to the position 45b. A crank I I is mounted upon the forward end of the shaft 9, Figs. 1 and 5. The crank I I is pivotally connected to a link II), which in turn is connected to a double crank 5| whose upper arm is connected to a movable clutch collar of a clutch by which the motor driven pulley is coupled to the shaft 46. Consequently, each time the shaft 9 is rocked clockwise, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 4, the operation of the stitching apparatus is initiated. This occurs as a result of the quarter-rotation of shaft 1 which is caused by the advancing edge of the material to be stitched, as explained hereinabove. The shaft 46 continues to rotate until the selected number of clips have been placed, and when this happens the rock shaft 9 is restored to its normal position, Figs. 1 and 4.

The duration of rotation of the shaft 46 and hence the number of clips which are set for one seam, is controlled by the number of actuations required for the disk 22 to make one complete revolution. When the shaft 9 is first rocked at the initiation of a stitching operation, the lever 21, as best seen in Fig. 4, is rocked clockwise by the link It and moves the rod 26 to the left against the action of the spring 49. The rod 26 carries a roller 48 which is seated in a dwell 56 in the flange of the disk 22 when the machine is at rest, Fig. 4. The disk 22 is intermittently advanced in one direction through a ball or roll coupling 47, that is, a one-way clutch, and the first rotary movement of disk 22 occurs when the operation of the shaft is started. This happens when the roller 48 is withdrawn from the dwell 56 by the rocking of the lever 2! when a stitching operation is initiated. Thereafter and until the disk 22 has made one complete revolution, the roller 48 rides upon the flange of the disk 22 and maintains the rod 26, the lever 21, the rock shaft 9 and the double crank 5i in their rocked positions. When the disk 22 has completed a full revolution the roller 48 is again able to enter the dwell 50. As this occurs the shaft 46 is disengaged from the motor driven pulley 25, and the stitching operation immediately ceases.

The disk 22 is part of the variable ratio or division apparatus whereby the number of clips to be set during each stitching operation is determined. The division apparatus is best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. One clip is set for each revolution of the shaft 46 and the disk 22 is advanced a fraction of a revolution for each revolution of shaft 46. The division apparatus is driven from the shaft 46 by a chain and sprocket connection i5 which drives the shaft I3 at a ratio of one to one.

The shaft I4 is driven from shaft I3 by a linkage which is adjustable for oscillating the shaft I4 a fraction of a revolution for each revolution of the shaft I3, depending upon the selected ratio of rotation between the two shafts i3 and i i. The inner portion of the one-way clutch is fast on shaft I4 and causes the disk 22 to be advanced in one direction a distance equal to the amplitude of oscillation of the shaft I 4 each time shaft I3 makes a complete revolution.

The mechanism by which the shaft I4 is driven by shaft I3 and by which the ratio of rotation between the two shafts may be varied, includes ,a variable radius crank comprising a screw I? which is carried by a member or wheel I6 which is mounted upon shaft I3. The axis of the screw Il passes through the axis of the shaft I3 and is mounted in brackets so as to be rotatable to change the position of a nut I8 radially of the member It. The nut I8 is non-rotatable and carries a crank pin I8 which can be positioned any selected distance from the axis of shaft i3 by rotating the screw II. The shaft I I carries a wheel 2! upon which is mounted a crank pin 26. A connecting rod I9 serves as a link between the crank pin I8 and the crank pin 20, The wheel 2i and the shaft I4 is given an amplitude of movement equal to twice the radius of the crank pin I8, or 21, each time the crank pin I8 makes one complete revolution due to slippage of the one way clutch during the second half revolution of the wheel I6. The nut I8 of the crank pin I8 may be positioned anywhere along the screw which will provide a ratio which is divisible into the circumference of the path of travel of the crank pin as an equal number of times, such, for example, as 3, 5, l2 and 20. A scale with divisions indicating the possible positions of the crank pin I8 for obtaining desired ratios is conveniently applied alongside of the screw I8, as shown in Fig. 5.

As explained hereinbefore, the duration of rotation of the shaft 46 and hence the number of complete revolutions of the shaft 46 and of the wheel I6 is determined by the number of actuations of the disk 22 which are required to rotate the disk 22 through 360. For example, since one clip is set for each revolution of the wheel I6, the wheel It will have to make five complete revolutions to advance the disk 22 one complete revolution with the center of the crank pin I8 positioned opposite the No. 5 graduation, as shown in Fig. 5. When five clips have been set, the wheel I6 will have made five revolutions and the disk 22 will have made one complete revolution. At the completion of the single revolution of the disk 22, the roller 48 on rod 26 enters the dwell 56 on the disk 22 and thereby causes the double crank 5| to rock and disengage shaft 46 from the motor driven pulley 25 and thereby terminate the stitching operation.

It is apparent that the shorter the radial arm of the crank pin I8, the greater the number of revolutions of the wheel I6 will be required before the disk 22 has completed one full revolution, and vice versa. With the crank pin I8 located at any one of the positions, 3, 5, l2 and 20 of the scale, the disk 22 will rotate 72, 30 and 18, respectively for each full revolution of the wheel I 6, so that with the crank pin I8 at one of the positions 3, 5, 12 and 20, the wheel I6 each complete revolution of the disk 2%, and 3, 5, 12 or clips will be set, depending upon the position in which the crank pin ill has been set.

In order that the disk 22 may not follow disk ,Zl during its return stroke of its oscillation, a

brake provided which slides against the periphery of the disk '22 until the roller '48 falls into the notch At the moment this occurs,

the brake 255 enters the notch 53 in the rim of the disk 22. The relationship of the notch 53 and of the brake ZS-is such that small adjusting movements of the wheel 22, which may occur when the roller til enters the notch til, are permitted. At the same moment the lever 2'! causes the shaft 9 and the double crank 5! to free the shaft at from the pulley 25 and bring the machine to a standstill. The brake 2% is influenced by a soft spring and so adjustable that it is very lightly pressed against the rim of the disk 22, which therefore stands still when it is not moved forward by the disk 25 and the one way clutch 47. When the brake 28 is opposite the notch 53 and an advancing motion comes from the rod 59, the

brake will slide onto the rim of the disk 22 without being hindered in an appreciable degree by the light brake pressure.

location of thenrst l p m the edge f a sheet or sheets of material is determined by the distance between-the stitching app 44 and the shaft l as measured along the surface of the table i. The shaft T is suspended from a shaft Bil which carries two gears 58 and 59 resting upon a pair of racks 29 which extend horizontally from the frame of the machine. By rotating the handwheel 54 on shaft 30 the shaft 30 may be moved towards or away from the stitching apparatus ts so as to locate the shaft 1 at the distance from the stitching apparatus which is to correspond with the distance of the first clip in a seam fro-m the forward edge of sheets of material which are to be stitched together.

In Fig. 2 there is illustrated a pair of endless bands l2 which have reaches extending over the surface of the table I. These endless bands are driven by the shaft t and may supplement or be used in place of the roller l2 for advancing the sheet material over the table. The sheet material is pressed against the travelling surfaces of the bands by the rollers 6. The spacing of the bands i2 may be changed as desired by rotating the handwheel 4!}.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 763,967, filed July 26, 1947.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, stitching apparatus for setting clips into sheets of material, a shaft for driving said stitching apparatus, a source of power for actuating said shaft, co-u pling means for coupling said source of power and said shaft during a stitching operation, and means operable by the material to be stitched for controlling said coupling means for coupling said source of power and said shaft, said controlling means including a rotatable shaft and a finger wheel mounted thereon, said finger wheel including a plurality of fingers adapted to extend, one at time, according to the rotary position of said finger wheel shaft, into the path of the advance of material to be stitched.

2. In a device of the class described, stitching apparatus for setting clips into sheets of material, a shaft for driving said stitching apparatus,

'a source of power for actuating said shaft, coupling means for coupling said source of power and said shaft during a stitching operation, means for controlling said coupling means for coupling said source of power and said shaft, said controlling means including a rotatable shaft and a finger wheel mounted thereon, said finger wheel including a plurality of fingers adapted to end, one at a time, according to the rotary position of said finger wheel shaft, into the path of the advance edge of material to be stitched, ins feeding material to be stitched into engagement a depending finger of said finger wheel to cause the finger wheel to rotate a fraction of a revolution at a time for starting a stitching operation, and mechanism driven from said source of power for driving said material-feedmeans.

In a device of the class described, stitching apparatus for setting clips into sheets of material, a shaft for driving said stitching apparatus, a source of power for actuating said shaft, coupling means for coupling said source of power and said shaft during a stitching operation, means for controlling said coupling means for coupling said source of power and said shaft, said controlling means including a rotatable shaft and a finger wheel mounted thereon, said finger wheel including a plurality of fingers adapted to extend, one at a time, according to the rotary position of said finger wheel shaft, into the path of the advance edge of material to be stitched, means for feeding material to be stitched into engagement with a depending finger of said finger wheel to cause the finger wheel to rotate for starting a stitching operation, motion-transmitting mechanism driven from said source of power for uncoupling said driving shaft from said source of power, said motion-transmitting mechanism including a ratio changing device which is settable for uncouplin said driving shaft when it has completed a predetermined number of revolutions.

4. In a device of the class described, stitching apparatus for setting clips into a sheet of material, a shaft for driving said stitching apparatus, a source of power for driving said shaft, a rotatable controlling shaft, a wheel carried by said controlling shaft, said wheel having fingers extending, one at a time, into the path of material to be stitched, means for feeding said material past said stitching apparatus and into contact with one of the fingers of said wheel, means controlled by the rotation of said finger wheel shaft for coupling said driving shaft and said source of power to start a stitching operation when the material fed by said feeding means is fed thereby into contact with a finger on said finger wheel, a pair of racks extending parallel to the direction of feed of the material being fed, gears engaging the said racks, a shaft extending between said gears, means carried by said last-named shaft for rotatably supporting said controlling shaft whereby said controlling shaft and finger wheel may be moved longitudinally of said racks to position said finger wheel with respect to said stitching mechanism to locate the first clip of a series of clips at a desired distance from the advance edge of the material to be stitched.

5. In a device of the class described, stitching apparatus for setting clips into sheets of material, a shaft for driving said stitching apparatus, a source of power for driving said shaft, a rotatable shaft carrying a wheel having fingers extending, one at a time, into the path of material to be stitched, conveyor means for feeding said material into contact with one of the fingers of said finger wheel for rotating said finger wheel and rotatable shaft a fraction of a revolution at a time, means controlled by said last-named shaft for coupling said source of power to said first-named shaft for starting a stitching operation, and a pair of endless belts mounted on vertical axes and spaced apart for justifying the longitudinal edges of the material to be stitched as the material is fed into contact with said finger wheel and under said stitching apparatus.

6. In a device of the class described, stitching apparatus for setting clips into sheets of material, a shaft for driving said stitching apparatus, a source of power, conveyor means for feeding the material to said stitching apparatus, said conveyor means being mounted on horizontal axes and having surfaces gripping the opposite surfaces of the material adjacent the marginal edges of the material, means connecting said conveyor means with said source of power, a pair of endless belts mounted on vertical axes for guiding the edges of the material as it is being fed, a rotatable controlling shaft, a wheel mounted on said controlling shaft, said wheel having fingers extending, one at a time, into the path of material being fed by said feeding means, means operable by said controlling shaft for coupling said source of power and said firstnamed shaft for starting a stitching operation,

and means driven from said source of power for uncoupling said first-named shaft from said source of power when a predetermined number of clips have been set.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, stitching apparatus for setting clips into sheets of material, a shaft for driving said stitching apparatus, a source of power for actuating said shaft, means for coupling said source of power and said shaft during a stitching operation, means for feeding material to be stitched, means operable by the material being fed for controlling said coupling means for coupling said source of power and said shaft, means operable to uncouple said shaft from said source of power at the conclusion of a stitching operation, said lastnamed means comprising a dividing apparatus for determining the duration of operation of said shaft and said stitching apparatus and including a crank driven by said shaft, a second crank driven by said first crank, adjustable means between said first crank and said second crank for changing the ratio of the rates of rotation between said two cranks, a rotatable disc, a one-way clutch between said second crank and said disc for intermittently advancing said disc, and means controlled by said disc for uncoupling said first-named shaft from said source of power.

OLOF EINAR LARSSON.

No references cited. 

